I decided that I would beat the fighters guild, arena, and mages guild at least before I did that and now I want to finish up the dark brotherhood, also I have gotten alittle pre occupied with side quests and dugeneering

----------------------------------------------------
xhuntedgunzpcgx: some people actually have fun playing the game and didnt run through the main quest im lvl 23 and i have about 30 quests left until i finish main quest
----------------------------------------------------
I wanted to finish it fast because I wanted it to feel like I really did have a world to save. It doesn't mean I didn't have fun.

How the hell do you even survive in the Oblivion realms at such a low level? I went to the first gate at level 16 and couldn't even survive 10 hits from a Clannfear (which were unavoidable since they charge attack everytime you get out of range). Currently level 27 and still haven't closed the first gate.

If you don't keep your gear repaired it doesn't really do you any good at all. I would clear up your bounty and buy some repair hammers and try to carry around ten before you go exploring. They'll come in handy.
Also look into Alchemy, it'll save your butt more often than you'd expect.

If I actually slept in a bed til I couldnt level anymore, I'm sure I'd be about level 30 or 40 something... and I'm still not done with the main quest. I just allowed myself to level til I was 17, then stopped sleeping in bed. At that level I can get the best stones in Oblivion, so I've been farming the +50 Magicka ones. When I get about 10 or 15 of those, a couple of +health and feathers, I'll finish the main quest.

I'm really in no hurry. I absolutely abhor those stupid gates and can only close a few a night before it's just not fun anymore.

If I actually slept in a bed til I couldnt level anymore, I'm sure I'd be about level 30 or 40 something... and I'm still not done with the main quest. I just allowed myself to level til I was 17, then stopped sleeping in bed. At that level I can get the best stones in Oblivion, so I've been farming the +50 Magicka ones. When I get about 10 or 15 of those, a couple of +health and feathers, I'll finish the main quest.

I'm really in no hurry. I absolutely abhor those stupid gates and can only close a few a night before it's just not fun anymore.

I waited to level up to a 23 or 22 before I took the main quest because I wanted bigger, more intimidating Daedra to fight. This, to me, made the main story line seem a little more important, or epic. I didn't want to fight Goblins and moronic Darth Maul wannabes the entire time so I waited to get the bigger baddies. It made it a more enriching experience to me.

I tried to do it at level 1 (Eventually 2 because I used Wabbajack) but was rushing and wasn't prepared and couldn't kill Mankar Camoran and company. I'd saved in there to so I had to start again. Since then I have a Redguard who has just clocked 100 hours, and I think I did the main quest at about level 28 after all guilds/KOTN.